Restart File Explorer by opening Task Manager, selecting Windows Explorer, and clicking Restart to resolve temporary glitches. 2. Disable third-party clipboard managers or background apps that may interfere, and test in a clean boot environment if needed. 3. Run SFC /scannow in Command Prompt as Administrator to repair corrupted system files. 4. Clear clipboard history via Win V or disable it in Settings > System > Clipboard to prevent hangs. 5. Update or reinstall keyboard and mouse drivers through Device Manager, or test with the on-screen keyboard to rule out hardware issues. 6. Check for Windows Updates via Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any pending patches. Most copy-paste issues are software-related and can be fixed by following these steps in order, with a system restore being rarely necessary.
Copy and paste not working in Windows 10 can be frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of important tasks. While it’s a common issue, the good news is that it’s often fixable with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps. Here’s what you can do to get it working again.

1. Restart File Explorer (Most Common Fix)
A temporary glitch in Windows Explorer can cause copy-paste to stop working.
Steps:

- Press
Ctrl Shift Esc
to open Task Manager. - Go to the Processes tab.
- Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
- Wait a few seconds for it to reload.
Try copying and pasting again. This fixes the issue in many cases.
2. Check for Stuck Clipboard or Conflicting Software
Sometimes third-party clipboard managers or background apps interfere with the default copy-paste function.

What to do:
- Temporarily disable any clipboard tools (like Ditto, ClipClip, etc.).
- Close apps that run in the background (especially productivity or clipboard utilities).
- Restart your PC and test copy-paste in a clean boot environment if the problem persists.
Tip: You can perform a clean boot via
msconfig
to isolate software conflicts.
3. Run System File Checker (SFC)
Corrupted system files can break basic Windows functions.
Run SFC:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type:
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the scan to complete (can take 15–20 minutes).
- If issues are found and repaired, restart your computer.
This often resolves deeper system-level problems affecting copy-paste.
4. Clear Clipboard History (If Enabled)
Windows 10 has a clipboard history feature that can sometimes hang.
To clear it:
- Press
Win V
to open clipboard history. - Click the three dots and delete individual items, or clear all.
- Alternatively, disable clipboard history:
- Go to Settings > System > Clipboard
- Turn off Clipboard history
Then test standard Ctrl C
/ Ctrl V
again.
5. Update or Reinstall Keyboard/Mouse Drivers
Faulty input device drivers can prevent copy-paste shortcuts from registering.
Steps:
- Press
Win X
> Device Manager - Expand Keyboards and Mice and pointing devices
- Right-click each device and choose Update driver
- Or, uninstall the device and restart to let Windows reinstall it automatically
Also, test using on-screen keyboard (Win Ctrl O
) to rule out hardware issues.
6. Check for Windows Updates
Microsoft often releases patches for known bugs.
Go to:
- Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Install any pending updates and restart.
Final Thoughts
Most copy-paste issues in Windows 10 are temporary and software-related. Start with restarting Windows Explorer, then move to checking for conflicting apps or system file corruption. If none work, a system restore or reset might be needed—but that’s rare.
Basically, try the quick fixes first. It’s usually something small.
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